Free Blood Covenant by Lisa Harris Page B

your batteries. And if you’re worried about all this, I can assure you that it will still be here when you get back.”
“It does tend to work that way, doesn’t it? Along with the nagging guilt that won’t go away.” She pushed the paperwork aside and pulled over another chair. “Will this do? I’ve got a few minutes, but there are still several patients I want to keep my eye on.”
Nick plopped down beside her and pulled out the containers. “I suppose I can understand your not being able to enjoy a perfect night sky with a somewhat dashing gentleman, but why the guilt?”
Her smile faded. “Most of these people have eaten hardly anything the past few days, which means I’m not sure I can justify filling my stomach. And that’s not the only problem. Even a run-down hotel room is better than sharing a tent with eight or nine other people. And they don’t have anywhere else to go.”
“I’ll make a deal with you.” He held up a pair of plastic forks. “If I promise not to cater your dinner every night, will you at least eat this plate?”
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He handed her one of the forks along with a bowlful of the chicken and rice. “Digane confirmed that the rest of the team should be arriving early Wednesday. If you end up with a patient that needs to be transferred to the hospital, I’ll be able to transport them for you in the morning.”
She dug into her food. “I’m glad you’re staying.”
He caught her softened expression and wondered if her gratitude was because of the logistical help he was offering, or if there was something more to her response. He tried to dismiss the thought, but knew he didn’t want to. Maybe he’d find a way to ask her out for a proper dinner before she left the country. They could talk about baseball and apple pie and get to know each other better.
He took another bite and smiled at the idea, as improbable as it seemed at the moment. Only God knew what the future held, but who was he to slam a door shut before finding out exactly what was on the other side?

THIRTEEN
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 6:53 P.M.
INGANI REFUGEE CAMP
Paige took another bite of the chicken and closed her eyes. For a moment, she could almost forget that they were sitting in the busy health clinic of a refugee camp, because she was sure she hadn’t eaten anything this good since the last meal her mom cooked for her before leaving Nashville. The chicken was tender, the vegetables crisp and flavorful. She knew enough not to ask Nick where he’d bought dinner. It would spoil the illusion that it had been prepared by some master chef, not picked up at one of the country’s back-alley restaurants. In this case, ignorance no doubt helped make everything taste better.
She peeked up at him, wishing those brown eyes of his weren’t so darn mesmerizing. She dropped her gaze to study the prominent veins running across the back of his tanned hands and the calluses on his fingers … “This is delicious.”
“Only because you haven’t eaten all day. And I have something else for you as well. Dessert.” He dug into his pants’ pocket, pulled out two small bags of M&M’s, and dropped them onto the table. “Now, I don’t know what you think, but my sister insists that chocolate helps take the sting off of rotten days. I’m sure there’s some medical reason you could explain to me.”
She couldn’t help but giggle, even though she’d definitely classify today at the top of her list of bad days. Besides, Casanova couldn’t have come up with a better way of winning her over. At least when it came to her appetite. “Where did you get M&M’s?”
He finished up the last bite of his rice. “My sister.”
She eyed the candy. Surely three months didn’t qualify as long enough to earn the right to crave things she couldn’t find here, but chocolate, found only in mediocre-tasting candy bars here, had quickly scooted to the head of her list.
Nick